'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' has always varied wildly when it comes to the ripped from the headlines type of stories, especially in the latter seasons. When it did this type of story well, the episodes in question were harrowing and moving emotionally and also managed to be tactful and explored relevant themes in an illuminating way. When not done well, the episodes in question came over as excessively predictable, exploitative and sensationalist, especially when so close to cases where feelings were still raw.
While "Imprisoned Lives" earlier on in Season 15 was an example of the former, unfortunately "Reasonable Doubt" was an example of the latter. It is far from a terrible or unwatchable episode, none of the show's episodes up to this point were (even the weaker ones), and even the pretty bad episodes present in later seasons had their good things. "Reasonable Doubt" is not one of the worst episodes of Season 15, but it is also a long way from being one of the best.
"Reasonable Doubt" has good things. The regulars are not bad at all, the complete opposite, Raul esparza hasn't lost his spark while Donal Logue has also been a welcome addition. Bradley Whitford is unsettlingly sleazy and one has a very strong feeling about whether he's guilty. Samantha Mathis does nutty and neurotic very well without overdoing.
The character of Chloe is affecting and the one guest character where anything is felt for in a way that isn't negative. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. Jeffrey Tambor is also very authoritative.
On the other hand, too much doesn't work. Some, well actually too much, of the dialogue is poor, really cringed at that out of the blue and unprofessional exchange between Rollins and Murphy. Really liked Murphy on the whole in his too brief stint, considered him a breath of fresh air even, but he shocked me here in by far his worst moment on the show and the one time where he does not come off well.
Moreover, this is a case that should have been harrowing and emotional considering the subject, but this is yet another ripped from the headlines episode to feel very flimsy and derivative. As is the danger with ripped from the headlines cases, it also felt gratuitously sensationalist and too close to the Woody Allen/Mia Farrow and Roman Polanski cases handled with little tact or tension to the extent that a bitter aftertaste is left. The pace is very dull as a result of the lack of tension and surprises, so atmospherically the episode felt bland.
Watchable episode overall but not particularly good. 5/10.
While "Imprisoned Lives" earlier on in Season 15 was an example of the former, unfortunately "Reasonable Doubt" was an example of the latter. It is far from a terrible or unwatchable episode, none of the show's episodes up to this point were (even the weaker ones), and even the pretty bad episodes present in later seasons had their good things. "Reasonable Doubt" is not one of the worst episodes of Season 15, but it is also a long way from being one of the best.
"Reasonable Doubt" has good things. The regulars are not bad at all, the complete opposite, Raul esparza hasn't lost his spark while Donal Logue has also been a welcome addition. Bradley Whitford is unsettlingly sleazy and one has a very strong feeling about whether he's guilty. Samantha Mathis does nutty and neurotic very well without overdoing.
The character of Chloe is affecting and the one guest character where anything is felt for in a way that isn't negative. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. Jeffrey Tambor is also very authoritative.
On the other hand, too much doesn't work. Some, well actually too much, of the dialogue is poor, really cringed at that out of the blue and unprofessional exchange between Rollins and Murphy. Really liked Murphy on the whole in his too brief stint, considered him a breath of fresh air even, but he shocked me here in by far his worst moment on the show and the one time where he does not come off well.
Moreover, this is a case that should have been harrowing and emotional considering the subject, but this is yet another ripped from the headlines episode to feel very flimsy and derivative. As is the danger with ripped from the headlines cases, it also felt gratuitously sensationalist and too close to the Woody Allen/Mia Farrow and Roman Polanski cases handled with little tact or tension to the extent that a bitter aftertaste is left. The pace is very dull as a result of the lack of tension and surprises, so atmospherically the episode felt bland.
Watchable episode overall but not particularly good. 5/10.
